Universal ladder



and is pivotally connected therewith as by means of a rivet pinextending in the di rection of the legs of the U members throughsuitable apertures in the bases of the U members 19 and 23; and the Umember 23 further includes legs 26a and 26b extending downwardly fromthe ends of vthe base 24:, about the sides of the adjustable base supporting member 18, and a headed rod 27 ex tends through re 'ister-ingapertures in the leg 26a, adjustable supporting member 18, and leg 26b,for pivotally connecting the swivel member with the adjustablesupporting member as aforesaid.

The length of the transversely extending adjustable base supportingmember 18 is such as to permit the swivel member 17 to ride on the rail14 to either side of the ladder, for permitting the outer end of thebase supporting member 18 to be inserted through the side opening slot130; or 13?), as the case may be, in the opposite ladder leg, afterwhich the transversely extending supporting member 18 is moved endw-isethrough the slot, which may be as illustrated theslot 13a, and angledwith respect :to the leg as required.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, the lower end of the leg 11b is resting upon apoint 286 of an irregular ground surface, and the adjustable basesupporting member 18 extends transversely through the slot 13a in theopposite leg, and the outer end ofnthe member 18 rests upon a point 28aof the ground below the point 27.

Each of the slots 13a and 18b is substantially longer than the width ofthe member 18, thus permitting aug-ulation of the member 18 iii-eitherslot.

The member 18 may be made of wood, and for securing themember in anydesired position of adjustment in either slot, engaging members 29a and29?) are provided, which may be pointed extremities of the rail iends15a and 156, respectively, for gouging into the abutting surface of themember 18.

Accordingly the weight of the ladder itself,and any additional loadimposed thereon from above, causes the upper end of the particular slotthrough which the member 18 is extending, and the adjacent engagingmeans, to press downwardly on the upper surface of the supporting member18, about the outer end thereof as an axis, thus causing the rod 2910fthe swivel member 17 to be pulled downwardly against the 11131161surface'of the rail 14 as best illustrated in Fig. 3, thereby clampingthe member 18 in position; and the intensity of the clamping forces isin creased with increasing load on the ladder.

The outer end of the shank of the rivet 16a, preferably passes through asuitable aperture in one end of a rearwardly ext-ending adjustable basesupporting member 30a, for pivotally connecting the adjustable basesupporting membe 30a with the ladder leg 1161; and similarly the outerend of the shank of the rivet 16?), preferably passes through a suitableaperture in one end of a rearwardly extending adjustable base supportingmember 305, for pivotally connecting the adjustable base supportingmember .30?) with the ladder leg 11?).

Intermediate its ends, the base supporting member 30a is pivotallyconnected with the lower end of an adjusting strut 31a as by means of arivet 32a; and the upper end of the adjusting strut 31a is pivotallyconnected as by means of a rivet 33a with the rear end of a clampingmember S te, the forward end of which is in the form of a hook 35a whichhooks about the forward end face 36a of the ladder side leg 11a, and theupper inner end corner 3M of the adjusting strut 31a, extends above theclamping member34ca, whereby the clamping member 34a may be swungupwardly about the rivet 33a as an axis permitting raising or loweringof the adjusting strut, with a consequent raising or lowering of therear end of the adjustable base supporting member 30a.

V'Jhen the rear end of the adjustable base supporting member 30a restsupon the point of ground support 39 in such position as to maintain theladder upright, the strut 31a is clamped in position by pushing theclamping member 340. downwardly, thus Wedging the end corner 37a and theclamping hook 3565 against the opposite end faces of the ladder sidemember 11a.

Similarly, intermediate its ends, the base supporting member 305 ispivotally connected with the lower end of an adjusting strut 316 as bymeans of a rivet 32?); and the upper end of the adjusting strut 31?) ispivotally connected as by means of a rivet 336 with the rear end of aclamping member 341), the forward end of which is in the form of a hook356 which hooks about the forward end face 36?) of the ladder side leg11?), and the upper inner-end corner 37b of the adjusting strut 311;,extends above the clamping member 34-h, whereby the clamping member 346may be swung upwardly about the rivet 33?) as an axispermitting raisingor lowering of the adjusting strut, with a consequent raising orlowering of the rear end of the adj ustable base supporting member 306.

When the rear end of the adjustable base supporting member 30?) restsupon the point of ground support 40 in such position as to maintain theladder upright, the strut 31b is clamped in position by pushing theclamping member 3 17) downwardly, thus wedging. the end corner 37?) andthe clamping hook 357) against the opposite end faces of the ladder.

side member 11?).

Any load which may be imposed upon the ladder further increases theclamping action of the clamping members 34]).

V1 hen folding and unfolding the ladde'r'to the position illustrated inFig. 1, it is desir able that both rearwardly' extending, adjustablebase supporting members a and 30b be operated more or lesssimultaneously, and for this purpose a transverse connecting member 41is pivotally secured at its ends as by means 31b. Iclaim: 1 Q 1. Aladder including longitudinally extending transversely spaced sidemembers, and transversely extending, longitudinally spaced step membersconnected at their ends step members. comprising a frame, a pluralityofbase supporting members extending laterally of the frame, meanspivotally conwith the side members, the side members and step memberscomprising a frame, a plurality of base supporting members extendinglaterally of the frame,means pivotally connecting one end ofeach basesupporting member with the frame, and'self-clamping means forindividually maintaining each base supporting member in selectiveangular positions with respect to the frame. 7 w a 2. A ladder includinglongitudinally ex tending transversely spaced side members, andtransversely extending, longitudinally spaced step members connected attheir ends with the side members, the side membersand necting oneend ofeach base, supporting member with the frame, and adjustable means for vmaintaining each basesupporting member in:

selective angular positions with respect to the frame, one of theadjustable. means includin g a strutpivotally connected atone end withone of the base supporting .members and a releasable self-wedging clampconnecting the other end ofthestrut and one of the ladder frame sidemembers.

3. A ladder including longitudinally ex tending transversely spaced sidemembers, 5 and transversely extending, longitudinally spaced stepmembers connected at their ends with the side members, the side membersand step members comprisin a frame, a plurality of base supporting memis extending laterally of the frame, means pivotally connecting one endof each base supporting member with the frame, and adjustable means formaintaining each base supporting member'in selec tive angular positionswith respect to the frame, and said adjustable means each including astrut pivotally connected at one end with one of the base supportingmembers and a releasable self-wedging clamp connecting the other end ofthe strutand one of the ladder frame side members. i r 5 4. A ladderincluding longitudinally extending transverselyspaced side members, andtransversely extending, longitudinally spaced step members connected attheir ends with the side members, the side members and step memberscomprising a frame, a plurality of base supporting members extendinglaterof screws 50 to the opposite strut'3 la and tending transversely'spaced side members; and transversely extending, -longitudinally spacedstep r'nember's connected *attheirends ally of th e frame, meanspivotally connecting members, and means ope'ra'tivelyconnecting:

another of the base supporting members: on.

s'pectto the frames r I A ladder includi tending transversely spacedside members,

and transversely extending,- 'longitudinall spaced 'stepfinembersconnected at theiren s j' v I with theside members, the si demembersand; 8 5' step members comprising a frame, a plural ity of basesupporting 'Inembers extending laterally of the frame, means piv'ota'llycon;

necting one end of each of some -o'fthe base supporting members: withthe} frame, seIfclamping means for maintaining eachi'pivotally"connected base supporting member I in selective angular positions withrespect to the frame, and. means operatively connecting" another oftbebase supporting members on:

the frame for endwise movement: re-

spectto the frame;

A; ladder; including lagiaaaufy with the side members, 'the*'sidemembersand= step members :comprisirng a frame, ajp lural-" ity r of basesupportingmembers extending laterally of the frame, means Ipivotallyfcon necting one end of each base supporting mern-'= b'erwith-the fframefadjustable' means for maintaining each base supporting:memberin selective angularpositions with respect to the frame, and saidadjustable means each including a strut connected at its ends to aba'sesupporting member and a side frame member,

and having a pivotal connection with one of the members and aself-iwedging clamp connection with the other. A

I 1, 7. A ladder including "a frame comprising longitudinal side membersand trans versely extending step members therebetween,

a] plurality of adjustable base supporting Y members extending laterallyof the frame, a transverse guide member on the frame, and self-clampingmeans slidably connecting one of the base supporting members with theguide member. u I

8. A ladder including a frame comprising longitudinal side members andtransversely extending step members therebetween, a plurality ofadjustable base supporting members extending laterally of the frame, atransverse guide member onthe frame, self-clamps mg means :slidably land:pivota-lly connecting one of the base supporting members with the guidemember, and means 1011 each side frame member fol-selectively engaingzsaidslidably and pivot-ally :cennected ase supporting member.

9. In a ladder including .a frame comprising lengitndina-l :side membersand trans veusely extending step members therebetween, :a plurality oflaterally extending base Supporting members for the frame, a transverseguide member extending between the longitudinal side members of theladder, means slidably mounted on the said guide member and pivotallyconnected to one end of 'one of the base supporting members, each sidemember having an aperture formed therein and adapted to selectivelyreceive the other :end of said pivotally connected base Supportingmember, :and means for coacting with each nfzsaid apertures to engagesaid base supporting member and maintain it in selective angrialarposit-ions relative to the ladder frame. a

10. In a ladder including a frame comprising longitudinal side membersand transversely "extending :step members therebetween, .a pluralityofadjusta'ble base support ing members for thef rame, adjust-able meansfer maintaining each base supporting memher in selective angularpositions with respect to the frame, a plurality of the adjustable meanseach including a clamp .slidable onone of the side members and a strutpivot ally-eonnectedat-one-end with the outer portion of :one of thebase supporting members and pivotal-ly-connected intermediate its endsand adjacent the other end :to the clamp, whereby the weight of theladder will effect a wedging action between the side member and the endof the strut beyond the clamp.

In testimony that I claim the above, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JOHN C. RUSE.

